NP231HD Rebuild

The 231 transfer case in my 98 Dakota howls pretty bad plus I can move the output shaft at the rear driveshaft up and down. Don't think it should do that, right?
Any tricks to building this case? Was thinking of this kit.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NP231-Tran...it-1987-2001-16MM-BK231AD-2/192321379421
Thanks

They are pretty straightforward, if repairing stuff yourself is a normal deal for you it will be no problem. You just want to have some good snap ring pliers and lock ring pliers.

The hardest part I remember is changing the bearing for the front output, it is very difficult to get out without the proper tool, the proper tool would be an internal puller with very thin fingers to get under that bearing.

If that front output bearing looked ok I wouldn't change it. My friends looked fine and we changed it anyways and it cost us lots of time because we had tons of pullers available but not the "right" one. When i did my t-case I left that bearing alone, even with over 200K miles it looked fine, and 12 years later it is still fine.

Thanks for the info. With the way that this thing howls like a dog I will probably want to change all the bearings. Has 230K miles on it. I know a Mopar guy that has a tranny shop here. Maybe I can get him to pull that bearing for me.

I should clarify it is the front output bearing that is on the rear case, its a thin bearing and there is no way to access the back of it to knock it out.

I need to service the 231 in my jeep, I am sure I have wounded the planets in it by beating on it because it screams pretty loud in 4-low but it is silent otherwise. It probably wasn't designed to run wide open into the rev limiter in high gear in low range lol.

I know what you are talking about and I know what the correct puller looks like but having worked in dealerships all my life those tools tend to disappear or get broken. So I have in the past broken them apart to get them out. However if you go this route be sure to wear eye protection and a face shield, cover the area with a rag before taking a hammer and chisel to it.